Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

A Conquered Empire (DaveTheHuman & XochitlDreaming)

Joined
Dec 13, 2014
2pqmf6g.jpg



On the highest tower of the palace which overlooked Midrel, Rajib Malco stared silently out onto the great expanse of Heart Lake. Up until three years ago, the Erobern tribes had never reached this famed lake. Malco's father, the late Rajib Urgo, did something the Erobs thought was impossible. He united the nine tribes and led them into victory after victory until Jonra of the Laus Empire was conquered. Only then did the nine tribes reach Heart Lake and let their horses drink from the water which united the world.

Then this very morning, Rajib Malco and his nine tribes of Erobern met the Emporer on the field east of Midrel to fulfill Rajib Urgo's wish. The sky was filled with the dark shafts of arrows like a torrential downpour while the ears of every warrior were filled with the sound of battle cries, screams, and the thunder of horses. But the battle hardened nomads of Erobern and their famed horses cut through the Laus soldier's lines like an arrow through flesh. Every Erob soldier present felt the pride of their ancestors filling their hearts. They felt privileged to stand on a battlefield against such an expansive army. When the battle had finished and the Erobs stood over their fallen enemies, a great cry of victory rang through the air so loud that the ancestors in the clouds were certain to hear.

Standing atop the tower, Rajib Malco felt as if his father and all his ancestors were right beside him. The feeling humbled the Rajib as he held the late Emporer’s crowned helmet in his hand. Turning to the nine tribe leaders and others he said in the Erobern language “We have all honored our ancestors today. They all look down on us from the clouds so near. By conquering the heart of the empire we have ensured our tribesmen and women will live in a new great era of prosperity. Now… we must celebrate our great victory.”

The Erob’s in attendance on the tower cheered as loud as the cry of victory and then slowly made their way down the winding steps of the tower. Malco stayed for a while longer, looking down at the great Heart Lake. He was a giant of a man, standing seven feet tall with a body covered in muscles. The Erobs treasured strength so any leader of esteem was strong, but none were as tall as the Rajib. His skin was bronzed from his race and being one with the sun, and his hair and eyes were dark like his people’s. The hair atop his head was kept short while his beard, which was held together by a bronze ring, went down to his pectoral muscles. Shortly after, when the sun began setting, Rajib Malco descended the stairs into the palace.

The time for fighting was over, now the Erobs were ready to celebrate. Sitting on the late Emporer’s throne, Rajib Malco was ready to seal his victory in the Erob tradition of Suqora. The last Suqora was when his father conquered Jonra. His father mounted the provincial governer’s wife in front of everyone in attendance and when he was finished it was soon followed by the Erob warriors enjoying their own conquered woman of Jonra. Now Malco was ready to take the Emporer’s wife who was rumored to be a fair-skinned beauty.

Sitting on the throne, Malco looked down at his people accompanied with their captured women. Many were stripped down to nothing and crying, but it didn’t weigh on the hearts of any of the Erob’s. Malco was wearing his usual attire of leather boots, leather wrist guards, and a brown cloth around his waist which soon would be removed. This would be his first Suqora as Rajib.

Beneath him, on the steps to the throne were his blood brothers, men who shared no lineage with him but were closer to him than even his brother. They had sworn their lives to his protection and shared in his victories, losses, celebrations, and all that he owned. The men were loyal to him beyond the possibilities of love which was why they were seated with their own captured women closer than his brother and the nine tribe leaders.
 
DaveTheHuman said:
2pqmf6g.jpg



On the highest tower of the palace which overlooked Midrel, Rajib Malco stared silently out onto the great expanse of Heart Lake. Up until three years ago, the Erobern tribes had never reached this famed lake. Malco's father, the late Rajib Urgo, did something the Erobs thought was impossible. He united the nine tribes and led them into victory after victory until Jonra of the Laus Empire was conquered. Only then did the nine tribes reach Heart Lake and let their horses drink from the water which united the world.

Then this very morning, Rajib Malco and his nine tribes of Erobern met the Emporer on the field east of Midrel to fulfill Rajib Urgo's wish. The sky was filled with the dark shafts of arrows like a torrential downpour while the ears of every warrior were filled with the sound of battle cries, screams, and the thunder of horses. But the battle hardened nomads of Erobern and their famed horses cut through the Laus soldier's lines like an arrow through flesh. Every Erob soldier present felt the pride of their ancestors filling their hearts. They felt privileged to stand on a battlefield against such an expansive army. When the battle had finished and the Erobs stood over their fallen enemies, a great cry of victory rang through the air so loud that the ancestors in the clouds were certain to hear.

Standing atop the tower, Rajib Malco felt as if his father and all his ancestors were right beside him. The feeling humbled the Rajib as he held the late Emporer’s crowned helmet in his hand. Turning to the nine tribe leaders and others he said in the Erobern language “We have all honored our ancestors today. They all look down on us from the clouds so near. By conquering the heart of the empire we have ensured our tribesmen and women will live in a new great era of prosperity. Now… we must celebrate our great victory.”

The Erob’s in attendance on the tower cheered as loud as the cry of victory and then slowly made their way down the winding steps of the tower. Malco stayed for a while longer, looking down at the great Heart Lake. He was a giant of a man, standing seven feet tall with a body covered in muscles. The Erobs treasured strength so any leader of esteem was strong, but none were as tall as the Rajib. His skin was bronzed from his race and being one with the sun, and his hair and eyes were dark like his people’s. The hair atop his head was kept short while his beard, which was held together by a bronze ring, went down to his pectoral muscles. Shortly after, when the sun began setting, Rajib Malco descended the stairs into the palace.

The time for fighting was over, now the Erobs were ready to celebrate. Sitting on the late Emporer’s throne, Rajib Malco was ready to seal his victory in the Erob tradition of Suqora. The last Suqora was when his father conquered Jonra. His father mounted the provincial governer’s wife in front of everyone in attendance and when he was finished it was soon followed by the Erob warriors enjoying their own conquered woman of Jonra. Now Malco was ready to take the Emporer’s wife who was rumored to be a fair-skinned beauty.

Sitting on the throne, Malco looked down at his people accompanied with their captured women. Many were stripped down to nothing and crying, but it didn’t weigh on the hearts of any of the Erob’s. Malco was wearing his usual attire of leather boots, leather wrist guards, and a brown cloth around his waist which soon would be removed. This would be his first Suqora as Rajib.

Beneath him, on the steps to the throne were his blood brothers, men who shared no lineage with him but were closer to him than even his brother. They had sworn their lives to his protection and shared in his victories, losses, celebrations, and all that he owned. The men were loyal to him beyond the possibilities of love which was why they were seated with their own captured women closer than his brother and the nine tribe leaders.

Every preparation had been met. Orders had been given, soldiers and guards deployed. Every inch of the palace had been seen to, with men standing with poisoned blades at the ready to take on the Erob invaders. Once it had all been seen two, the Empress Zosime hands had been shaking, not so much for fear, but for helplessness. There had been so little left that she could do--only to pray. So she had gone to the Altar of Xanthe, offered three drops of her own blood and lit the candles and prayed and prayed as the battle raged outside. She had done her best to appeal to the god of mercy for her husband--to whom she'd only been married a mere month--the Emperor who did battle with the savage Erobs, and for her people, who would suffer if he failed. She prayed for hours in a kneeling position, up until the sounds of battle had died away.

Confusion had reigned, briefly, until the couriers had come, breathless and bloody to announce the fact that the Emperor was dead, and the conquerers were coming. It was news that Zosime had taken in stone. She rallied the members of the household and the guards to fight, even taking a long woman's blade into her own hands before the palace had fallen to the overwhelming might of the Erobs.

She was a woman of breeding, and like those women, like any women, not trained in any but the most basic of battle. The Erob warriors sent to fetch her for their King's pleasure--for she knew of the savage and beastly rituals conducted by conquering Erobs--did not laugh at her. They honored her with grim faces and one even bowed his head lightly before they had lunged forward. Zosime had screamed in rage and anguish, drawing a shallow slash across the chest of one of the warriors.

He had grunted in pain but neither of them move to harm her even as they knocked the blade from her hands and shcakled her wrists. Her serving girls had all been dragged away screaming, stripped of their clothes and taken into the throne room. Zosime was numb and grim even as the two Erob warriors marched her towards her impending fate.

Hot tears burned behind Zosime's eyes, but all she could do now was prepare for what was to come. She had to survive, if she was to advocate for her people. Whatever humiliations and degredations came, she had to sruvive. She had to. She had though of killing herself with that blade before the warriors had burst in to bring her before their bronze-skinned king, but that was the cowards way out, even if it was the one her dead husband might have preferred.

"Rajib!" the two warriors dipped their head before their golden king. Narenai refused to bow instead looking up at the conquerer with ferocious sapphire eyes. He was a beautiful barbarian, she realized, muscles rippling beneath bronzed skin, an oiled beard held by a bauble and grim, fierce eyes and bloodied hands. The blood of her husband. And she was afraid, though she did not blink, instead staring at him, her heart pounding in her chest. The thought of rape in front of her sobbing subjects, the final humiliation of their people mortified her, but she could not break down, and she would not cry, no matter what he did. She couldn't. She had to stay strong, for them.

**

"Blood brother," Hezkia said, gripping the woman's forearm and ignoring the shallow cut across his chest as he addressed his Rajib. "We bring you the Empress. She is everything she has been rumored to be, now but a slave before your throne."
 
When the Rajib's remaining blood brothers arrived, his eyes met the Empress' for the first time. He was glad to see she was not harmed although from the loyalty and skill of his blood brothers, he wasn't surprised. She was now his property and could only be harmed by him if he wished it. Looking at the shackled woman, his dark eyes left her saphire ones and trailed down her long light blonde hair which reached her knees. Bringing his vision up, he saw the curves of her hips concealed by her dress and then her swollen breasts above. She was truly a sight to see and would be perfect for Suqora.

Rajib Malco stood and motioned for Hezkia to bring her up the steps to him. Once at the top and in closer view, Malco said in his foreign language "She truly is a beauty with eyes as vibrant as the waters of the Whale Sea." He then addressed the Empress, not caring if she understood his words or not "Your husband was defeated in battle and you are now mine to do with as I please."

With that, the eyes of all in the throne room fell on Malco and Zosime. It was no mystery to the Erob's what would happen next. Malco reached slowly with a large bronze hand, feeling the soft fabric of her dress. With a swift tug, the fabric tore. Soon it laid in tatters on the steps to the throne. The Empress was left in only her skin, jewels, and shackles before him. Malco's eyes took in her soft cream skin and pink nipples. Between her legs he saw it shaven cleanly and the front of her pink lips.

But the time for admiration was over. His large hands gripped at her sides and pulled the Empress down onto all fours, facing the other Erob's and captured women. The Erob's waited and watched patiently, knowing they could not enjoy their women until the Rajib had emptied his seed into his. The Rajib put a foot on her back, keeping her held on all fours as his hands untied the rope around his brown leather loin cloth. The horse leather fell and exposed his manhood. Like the rest of his skin, his shaft and balls were bronze with the exception of his head. The head of his manhood was a dark pink and half-way shrouded by his foreskin. His shaft was thick and over ten inches long, causing his blood brothers to nickname him "stallion" long ago. Between his legs hung his two seed-loaded testicles, each the size of a walnut.

As Malco looked at his prize from behind, taking in the sight of her exposed ass and womanhood, his shaft swelled and lengthened in front of the audience. Before long it's full length was reached and the Rajib's hands were holding firmly on the waist of the struggling woman. The fat head of his cock brushed her pink folds, causing precum to be smeared across them. With a slow push, he entered her and continued to plunge deeper.

Cheers erupted from the Erob's as their Rajib started Suqora. Malco pushed deeper and harder into the light-skinned woman, penetrating her more as moments went by. He felt how tight her walls were around him, and it caused him to groan in pleasure and let more precum leak out of his dark pink head. But he would not stop until his bronze scrotum was pressed firmly against her clit. So despite the resistance and her sounds, he pushed roughly until he was fully seated.
 
Looking upon the conquerer, Zosime felt her stomach drop and her heart start to pound in terror. He was much bigger than she had previously imagined, and the image of her husband flashed before her eyes. Her husband had been as strong man, but not particularly tall or broad. No, he had fallen to a giant, and she could only wonder in dry-mouthed horror at the size of his manhood. She was a relatively small woman, short but finely made, with large round breasts, a narrow waist and wide hips. Her thighs were toned and strong, he hands long fingered and elegant, but she now had to wonder how strong she really was, for that was to come to the test in mere moments. She did understand some of what the new Rajib was saying--something about eyes and the Whale Sea, but her understanding of their language was better if it was written, not spoken. She stared at him as levelly as she could as he spoke, about her husband....

She closed her eyes for a long moment when he reached out and tore at the fabric of her dress. The sound of the ripped fabric was louder than it should have been, even over the sobs of the women in the throne room. Someone cried out, "My lady!" and was quickly silenced as the last shreds of silk had fallen to the floor, leaving her naked before the conquerer. Shame burned her face, her heart and Zosime had to think hard about how to endure this. Should she fight? That would only get her beaten as well as raped before her entire court. But she could not be entirely complicit, or passive. Even at her lowest moment, and surely this was going to be it, she had to think of something that she could do, something defiant, something that would give her people strength in this moment.

She flinched from his touch as though his hand was made of fire. He dragged her down, placing a heavy foot on her back and some instinct made her squirm and struggle against the indignity and the fear of what she knew was coming. She heard the heavy cloth of his loincloth fall to the ground, heavy, and even before it touched her she could sense his manhood. He gripped her hips with his rough hands and her throat tightened. Tears threatened, pushing hard against her eyes, and despite all her vows and attempts to keep them back , when she felt his cock--huge, heavy part her lips and roughly enter her two silent drops of diamond spilled from her eyes onto the floor.

In terror and pain her muscled clenched, but that only made it worse. He was huge, and she could feel his girth pressing painfully against the tight walls of her cunt, every ridge pressing past her almost like a rasp. "Uunnngh!" she groaned as he pushed deeper and deeper and she couldn't imagine that there was more of him to take--but there was. Her knuckles whitened and her face was twisted with pain and when she finally felt the slap of his thighs against her ass, feeling impaled and painfully full did she force herself to look at her people.

She barely heard the cheers of the Erobs, nor the drums that started to beat when the Rajib started to thrust. She had to brace her forearms hard against the weight and power of his pumping hips, trying to look past the sobbing faces of the women in the court. Her breasts bounced horribly and distractingly, and the pain was such that she couldn't help but cry out when he hilted into her over and over. He was hardly like a man, he had the cock of a beast, a stallion.

But she could not simply allow herself to be fucked before the court. So, with bouncing breasts and trying to ignore the pain of her conquerer's invasion, she sucked a deep breath into her lungs and started to pray for her people--a prayer for strength for them even when she herself would threaten to break.

“Oh Xanthe, exceeding in strength...ungh...who whirl your fiery sphere among the s-stars...wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me!" her voice was a pained cry, forced into words. She faltered, hanging her head a moment before she managed to wrench her voice out of the pained moans and cries to keep speaking. "S-shed down a kindly ray from above upon my people, and strength of war, that I may be able to...aaaah! Ungh...drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. O blessed one, give you us boldness to abide despite suffering....ngh!...and keep despair at spear's tip!”
 
Cheers filled the throne room while wine and champagne were passed around in large pitchers. One Erob warrior complained about there not being any rum while the man next to him joked that they were supposed to drink only fine alcohol from now on and be fanned when the temperature grew too hot. The response was met with laughter as the Erobs held there women in place and watched their Rajib ravage the Empress.

Malco's hands left the the Empress' waist and slid down to cup her breasts. His massive hands made her large globes seem small as he squeezed them roughly. The thrusting became harder and faster with each passing second. His uncut head penetrating deep into her and even broke into her cervix. Letting out deep grunt-like moans, he began feeling tension growing in his heavy testicles.

The words coming from the woman's mouth weren't so foreign to him. They were spoken by the people of Jonra and he had even learned to speak the language in a very broken manner. It was crudely accented, but most could understand him. However, as he mounted the fair-skinned beauty like a stallion mounts a mare, he wasn't focused on her words one bit.

Suddenly, a deep groan escaped the Rajib's mouth and his hips gave a rough thrust into her. Fully sheathing his manhood, the shaft swelled quickly and rope after rope of hot cum jetted into her womb. His hands gripped her breasts tightly, not letting her ruin his pleasure for one second as he emptied into her with all he had. More cheers erupted from the throne room as fists beat on the tables. Malco let out a victory cry and pulled his slick manhood out of the Empress.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Erobs in attendance roughly mounted their women. Every single one of them took their captive from behind as animals do in the wild. The room was filled with screams of terror and cries of pleasure. Malco didn't bother putting his loin cloth back on. Instead, he wiped the cum-soaked tip of his cock on the Empress' ass and then sat naked on the throne. A servant quickly handed him a large mug of wine.

His eyes lingered on her backside for a while, admiring it before watching his blood brothers and the other's mount their women. It was the first Suqora in three years, so all of the Erobs in the throne room and beyond were sure to participate.
 
It was by some miracle that Zosime's words weren't drowned out. Even in the tear-streaked faces of the women who were about to follow in her fate, she could see their recognition. It was something that brought her a shred of comfort even as the Rajib seized her breasts and gripped them. Each thrust would have sent her tumbling forward if his grip hadn't prevented her from doing so. After the last words of her prayer left her lips she could only give voice to cries of pain and anguish as the Rajib fucked her like the Stallion of Storms himself. The world had narrowed down to the deep, bestial grunts and drawn out moans, the hard, rhythmic slapping of his thighs against her ass, the schlicking sounds of his cock it pounded mercilessly into her cunt and battered her cervix. She allowed herself a loud moan of agony, or grief, and for a time it seemed as though the nightmare would never end. No, she thought numbly he finally came into her, his hot seed spilling inside her. It's only just begun.

Even has he pulled out of her, allowing her to finally collapse into a heaving mess upon the Imperial dais, ass still in the air. As the cries and screams of her women and the howls and groans of pleasure of the men filled the air she let herself close her eyes, if only for a moment as she willed her heart to still, to become stone. She failed, and forced her eyes to open, and witness this travesty. I must become someone who can stem the suffering of my people, she thought desperately. I must not simply become a plaything of a conquerer.

She lay there, breathing, watching until the last man had cum into his captive. All of them lay sobbing on the floor, against tables and columns. And though she was still sore and in pain, she pushed herself up, first to her knees and then to her feet. She turned to face the Rajib, met his eyes and slowly walked towards the second, smaller throne--where she normally sat beside her husband. Naked, with the tear stains drying on her face she turned to face the audience and sat down.

**

Hezkia had been busy with his own captured woman, finishing inside her with a thrust and growl before pushing the weeping woman aside, just in time to look up and see the Empress sitting down, naked, in her seat beside his blood brother. As if she still wielded any power. The insolence of the woman made him angry--why did she not weep and cower like the others? He walked over to his Rajib and pointed at her.

"We can remove her to your tent, or the imperial chambers," he grunted.
 
Drinking the mug of wine, it wasn't the same as rum but it wasn't bad either. Half-way through the drink, Hezkia approached the crown, pointing to the Empress. Rajib Malco said "Find her closest servant and hold them in her chambers. I'm done with her for now."

With Suqora finished, the room was filled with tired men and disgraced women. It had been a long day for everyone in attendance, but the Erob's were not a people to choose sleep over celebrations. Spit-roasted hogs were brought in as well as fruits and other meats. Some of the higher ranking Erob's had their servants pull their newly captured slaves away to their tents, while others kept their naked captives possessively close.

The air in the throne room was hot with sex and the roaring fire only added to it. The Rajib and many others decided against returning to their clothes and instead began enjoying the feast. Not liking how the throne was so far from even his blood brothers, Malco walked to the bottom of the steps and sat with them, talking of the great battle and wondering which parts their great-grandchildren would enjoy the most. One of the blood brothers laughed "I have more children than any battlefield stories." The Rajib laughed, knowing Jawmbe's favorite pass time was fathering children.

**

After hearing his orders, Hezkia grabbed the Empress' arm and pulled her from her throne. Yelling to another Erob, a young man hurried over and began to translate Hezkia's words. "Hezkia say you are allow one servant in your room by the generous of the Rajib. Where is your servant?"

When the answer was received, Hezkia hurried the Empress to her chambers. He would follow any order the Rajib gave him, but with a feast happening, he wanted to finish the orders quickly. Although he was glad the arrogant woman was off of her conquered throne.

The young translator escorted the servant of the Empress' choice to her chambers. He was a eunuch over 40 years old with a bald head, no facial hair, and skin even lighter than her's. He had a bit of a belly on him, but was capable of completely any duty asked of him. When he saw the Empress naked in the hall with tear stains on her face, his mouth hung open. Quickly remembering his manners he said "Your highness, I will have a warm bath drawn for you as soon as possible." Looking at Hezkia and the translator he muttered "brutish bastards."

The translator could of course understand, but didn't feel the need to translate to Hezkia. Name-calling wasn't something that got under the skin of Erobs, especially when they had just conquered the heart of an empire.
 
Zosime had assumed that she would have been whisked away to the Rajib's tent to await his further pleasure. But instead she found herself escorted to her own chambers, with Akakios, her most trusted servant. He had been her slave since she was a child, watched her grow up, come with her to the palace of the Emperor when she had been married. There was no one more capable, nor anyone she trusted more who now lived. She walked with stiff and grim dignity, suppressing the urge to scream, trying to ignore the feeling of a full womb. She felt cold, ill and numb. She wanted to burn something. She wanted to throw up. But all of these things were beyond her now, and she allowed herself into the warm bath with water diverted from the Imperial hot springs into her personal bath.

It felt strange and horrible to be back in her own room, with all her things, after what had transpired. Yet she knew that she was not a different woman, merely one who had to adapt and quickly for the sake of her people.

"I trust they did not injure you," she asked Akakios as she scrubbed at her skin, the urge to scrub hard enough to make herself bleed strong but she fought it down. After Akakios answer she lifted her head. "In the morning, the Rajib will either kill me, or keep me." she paused. Things would be easier, less painful if he simply had her killed. Her dead husband might have even preferred it--he was probably looking down from the afterlife in disgust at his defiled Empress, perhaps even expecting her to take her own life to purify what had happened to her.

And yet.

"If he keeps me, I must endure for our people." her voice cracked some. "He may keep me as a plaything, even a wife, but I must do what I can to speak in a way that my voice might reach him so that our people suffer less under the Erobs. You must..." her mask started to crack, and a few more tears fell into the water. "Do not let me give into despair, Akakios. It would be easy, but I must not."

Once she had bathed, she allowed Akakios to help her into a sheer nightdress, something she would have worn on an evening the Emperor would call for her. She knew it would be lost on the Rajib but she refused to submit to nakedness entirely. If he wanted her naked, he'd have to remove this article as well. She did not bother with small clothes.

**

When the fires started to burn down in the week hours of the morning and drunken Erobs returned either to their tents or simply slept on the Imperial tiles. Hezkia did not sleep, though he was starting to feel the effects of pitched battle, several rounds of sex, drinks and a full belly. He had work to do. While his Rajib was busy he sent missives to the heads of the nine tribes to convene tomorrow as the Rajib had asked--to see what would be done with the Imperial household, and of course the defiant Empress herself. Most women break after Suquora, but this one had not and the idea of it irked him unduly, but it was not his place to deal with her.

"Rajib," he finally said, approaching Malcos. "The heads of the tribe have been summoned and will convene her in the hour of the horse at this palace. They tell me the servants have readied the Imperial chambers for you should you wish to take up residence."
 
Hearing his most dutiful blood brother speak, the Rajib replied "Good, there is much to discuss tomorrow. Many decisions will be made that will decide how long-lived our victory is. You have done well. Tonight I will sleep in my tent." Malco knew his sleep would come easier there. The stone walls of the palace, no matter how far apart, felt too familiar to a prison. It would take time to adjust. So for now his tent would suffice.

With most of the party asleep or making their way to it, Malco stood and walked toward the front entrance of the palace. "Bring the Empress to my tent. I will enjoy her one more time before bed."

The act was as rough and impersonal as the Suqora hours before. The only difference now was they were alone. After emptying in her again from behind, he sent the Empress off to her chambers before laying in his animal-fur bedding.

The next day, when the sun was at it's highest, Rajib Malco entered the palace to meet with the heads and the Waraq. Upon entering, the ten in attendance stood and bowed before taking their seats. Malco sat at the head of the table with the Waraq at his right. The old man was dressed as ornately as any religious leader would be expected. His long robes were a dark plum-like purple with golden tassles and the symbol of a stallion on his chest. He had a name, but it was considered disrespectful to address him in any way other than Waraq or Spiritual One.

Malco broke the silence "Great leaders and Spiritual One, we have completed my father's greatest dream. I know he is watching us from the clouds with pride shining upon his face. It is now our duty to make sure Midrel is forever under Erob control." After cheers and poundings on the table, the Rajib continued "Midrel is far different from Erobern or Jonra. It is not just the land but the people and their customs. There talents are different as well. We are famous for our fierceness in battle and horses while the people of Midrel are not. They practice money trading, create art worth as much as a mare, and write books that some would rather steal than a sack of gold coins. This is why our council will need every hand it can take. For if we rule the people only in our ways without respect to theirs, we will lose what our ancestors craved so dearly. That is why I will wed the Empress and we will not execute the heads of state useful to maintaining order."

**

Just like every person in Midral, today was a day of suffering. But what pained Akakios most was seeing Zosime in such a state. The wise eunuch knew she was holding up very well for a woman in such a position, but the lack of her smile caused the world to seem all the more grey. Raising her from youth, she was always so cheerful and kind. Seeing her pained in any way was as if he felt it as well. So this night he felt as if the sun would never rise again.

Hearing her words, he replied "You take on a great burden and I promise to always be here to help carry you through when you need it." Akakios wouldn't even humor the thought of Zosime being killed. He knew it was selfish knowing what she would endure, but he couldn't help but see her as a daughter to him. If she was to be killed, a large part of him would die as well.

It broke his heart to hear she was summoned again, but he remained strong for her benefit and was sure to keep the bath hot for her and her bed made neatly.
 
Zosime was not surprised at the summons. Once again he was rough and eager as a wild stallion. She whimpered and cried out as his massive girth pumped into her again and again, the head of his huge cock striking her cervix as a blacksmith's hammer does and anvil. But she did not cry, and refused to do so from that point on. She lay there in a heap, panting once he was finished with her, and dutifully left, unable to look at him.

Sleep did not come.

**

Hezkia knew he did not speak at a meeting of the nine leaders, for it was their word here that mattered, but was pleased that at least a few of them shared his opinion. One of them frowned and shook his head.

"You may be perceived as weak, Rajib," he said. "And any son by the Empress' would have to prove himself twice over."

"No, the Rajib shows wisdom beyond his years," the Waraq said in his gravelly voice, rough with years, experience and patience. "The strength of the Erob is not in purest of blood, but in mettle, fist and wisdom. He knows when to strike, and when to herd. The people of Midrel are many and strong, and they are better herded than destroyed."

"Wedding the Empress will give the Rajib strength and ties to the land that by their own laws they must accept. And the women here are not like ours, they have power in their own right. Any who accept the Empress as theirs must also bow before her husband without complaint, and the heads of state to preserve their own power must submit to the power of the last remaining member of the Imperial family."

Hezkia bit his tongue, but finally dared to speak. "Blood brother," he addressed Malco directly, "That woman is defiant. She could inspire the people to revolt if she is allowed to live. You saw her display after the Suquora."
 
Listening, it seemed the majority of those in attendance agreed. Those who disagreed didn't give reasons which swayed the Rajib' views. Hearing Waraq's opinion came as a surprise. Malco had expected his opposition but it was easy to see that the religious leader's words had calmed much of the opposition.

But when Hezkia spoke, the Rajib's head turned to him, glaring. "To speak in the council means you are a commander of subjects. You, Hezkia, are not that. And if you think me so weak as to let a woman cause revolt while beneath me, then you do not know me as well as a blood brother should." Malco was disappointed in his blood brother's interruption. Hezkia took on a lot more responsibility than the other blood brothers. Malco wondered if that should be stemmed.

Turning back to the other ten council members, Malco said "I will marry the Empress and the Lausians who hold vital positions will remain unscathed." From there, discussions were held as to which leaders of Laus would be executed and which would be kept. It took a long while to go through the list of names, but everyone in attendance knew if one rotten fruit was kept, it would fester and spread to the others. So the decisions were not taken lightly.

After spending hours in the palace, Rajib Malco felt it was time to get a closer look at the city. Mounting his horse, his blood brothers and a multitude of soldiers escorted him and some of the tribal leaders through the city streets. In the rush of battle none of the Erobs had time to appreciate the city's design. The roads were wide and at the center of the city, where the elevation was highest, all north-south roads had a view of Heart Lake. Taking one of those roads north, they eventually reached the docks. Erob soldiers were patrolling the area heavily, not wanting any citizen to jump on a ship with their treasures and leave.

Stopping at the docks, the Rajib looked and saw ships of every size anchored to the lake floor. He knew the city's wealth came from trade, and a dock at Heart Lake was the perfect place. From there one could reach nearly any part of the world with the exception of Erobern.
 
Back
Top Bottom